The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-06-20
A Nississippian's Big Embarrassing.

a Aiississippian's Big Embarrassing.
A MissisSippian, who claims that he has
been studying the political institutions of
this country ror forty years, declares that the
cause of all the troubles which vex tho
people is too many laws. Others have made
the same declaration, but they have failed
TO suggest an acceptable remedy. Tho
Mississippian proposes n remedy, but it IS
not likely that it viii ever be tried. 1t is Of
sufficient interest, however, to be described
he would have all existing constitutions
and laws abolished. For State government
he suggests that constitution be adopted
providing for the protection 'of life,
liberty and property. Under this
constitution he proposes that a
Legislature and five Governors shall be
elected. The former is to be composed of
men at least 50 years old, moral and well
educated. The five Governors are also to be
moral and well educated, and they are4o be
at least 60 years old The Legislature is to
pass the simplest laws possible for the three
purposes named in the constitution, and is
then to elect a Judge, Sheriff and assist
ants, Tax Collector, and Superintendent
of Schools for each county. These officers
are TO execute the laws, and are not to en-
gage in any other business. They are to
hold office five years and be ineli-
gible for reelection. The five Governors
are to have advisory powers only, but are
to require monthly report of the acts of
all county officers These reports are to be
consolidated and presented to the Legisla-
ture. Like the county officers, the five
Governors are to hold office five years and
then be ineligible for reelection. Members
of the Legislature are to hold office ten
years, but they are not eligible for re-elec-
ton. The Legislature is to meet every
fifth year and sit sixty days. 1t alone is to
have the power to punish officers who fail
to discharge their duties faithfully
and honestly. When any Governor
or member of the Legislature dies
the people of the State, without further no
tice, must hold an election within ten days
to fill the vacancy. When any county
officer dies, the people of the county must
hold an election to fill the vacancy five days
after. Elections for the entire State are to
be conducted by the county Judges. Those
for counties are to be conducted by the
superintendent of schools. These officers
are also to declare the results Every law
passed by the Legislature must be submitted
to the people to be ratified or rejected
For national government the Mississip-
plan would have the people elect a Presi-
dent, a Vice President and Congress. The
President and Vice President must be at
least 60 years old, and no man under 50 is to
serve as Congressman. The terms of these
public servants are TO be ten years. and none
of them can be reelected. They are to be
paid by the Legislatures'of the States out of
a fund collected for the support of State and
national governments. The President, Vice
President and Congress are to have no
power except over the foreign relations of
the country. Vacancies caused by death are
to be filled thirty days after they occur, the
States holding an election for the purpose as
in the case of the death of Governor or a
member of the Legislature.
No explanation is needed to show that the
Mississppian's remedy would hardly be an
effective one. 1t is not hazarding too much
to say that any of the plans of government
suggested by those who are going about de-
claring that the system established by the
fathers needs reforming have little or no
merit. There are too many laws it is true,
but what is mainly needed is the enforce
ment of those already in existence
The New York press is prettv certain that